"You really have to take your hat off to her" - Antonia Niedermaier's Tour de France caught former Olympic and World champion's attention
Cycling
Antonia Niedermauier's 2026 Tour de France Femmes turned heads as the 23-year-old sealed the white jersey and 4th place in the general classification. Among those impressed was former German Olympic gold medallist Lisa Brennaur.
A women's team pursuit winner in the Tokyo Olympics, Brennaur raved about her compatriot's form the entire season, underlined by a consistent Tour that saw her work in service of leader Kasia Niewiadoma as well as securing a high individual placing.
On the final stage of the Tour, Niedermauier led the peloton during the final ascent of the Col d'Eze climb before Niewiadoma and eventual winner Demi Vollering attacked on the steepest slopes of the climb.
With a second place finish at the Giro Donne earlier this season, Brennaur raved about her development and the impressive nature of her rise.
"Truly impressive"
"The way she has developed, the way she has ridden all year, is truly impressive," the former road and track World champion told SID.
An ever-present lieutenant for the 2024 Tour winner, she sealed the white jersey ahead of Paula Blasi by over one minute, and four minutes ahead of Isabella Holmgren in third place.
“The way she worked for Kasia Niewiadoma. That’s fun. That’s an incredible achievement,” Brennauer said. “That she won the white jersey by a large margin, finished fourth in the overall standings, despite all that work, you really have to take your hat off to her.”
“The way she set the pace for her leader from the front and was always there, always available."
Antonia Niedermaier
Niedermauier closing in on Tour podium
Just 51 seconds behind third placed Elisa Longo Borghini, Niedermauier now finds herself in the conversation for potentially becoming a podium challenger at the Tour, and Brennaur noted that it's not just last week that indicated that.
This season alone, the CANYON//SRAM rider finished 5th overall at Itzulia basque Country, took three podium finishes at the Giro on the way to second overall as well as a second and fifth in the German National Championships time trial and road races respectively.
"She's been riding at a very high level all year, not just in the Tour."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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